Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula mistaken as cervical transverse myelitis.

We describe a man with an intracranial dural arteriovenous fistula that presented as a subacute longitudinally extensive cervical myelopathy. The uncommon location of the fistula and the absence of specific radiological signs resulted in initial misdiagnosis as longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Neurologists should have a high index of suspicion for dural arteriovenous fistula in older men, especially those with subacute or chronic symptoms, acellular cerebrospinal fluid and, particularly, if there is neurological deterioration soon after corticosteroid treatment. Patients need early angiography to identify this treatable cause of myelopathy.

Upper Cervical Spinal Cord Stimulation as an Alternative Treatment in Trigeminal Neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the indications and outcomes of upper cervical cord stimulation in trigeminal neuropathy. METHODS: A consecutive single-center series of patients was retrospectively reviewed. It included 12 patients with trigeminal neuropathy treated with upper cervical spinal cord stimulation. Clinical features, complications, and outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: All patients had a successful trial before the definitive implantation of a spinal cord stimulator at the level of the craniocervical junction. The mean follow-up period was 4.4 years (range, 0.3-21.1 years). The average coverage in the pain zone was 72% and the median baseline, trial, and postoperative numeric rating scale (NRS) was 7, 3, and 3, respectively. When compared with the baseline, the mean reduction achieved in the postoperative average numeric rating scale was 4 points, accounting for a 57.1% pain reduction. The long-term failure rate was 25%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite there being enough evidence to consider upper cervical spinal cord stimulation as an effective treatment for patients with neuropathic trigeminal pain, a randomized controlled trial is needed to fully assess its indications and outcomes and compare it with other therapeutic approaches.

PulseRider-assisted treatment of wide-necked intracranial bifurcation aneurysms: safety and feasibility study.

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of PulseRider, a novel endovascular stent, in the treatment of intracranial bifurcation aneurysms with wide necks. The authors present the initial results of the first 10 cases in which the PulseRider device was used. METHODS Patients whose aneurysms were intended to be treated with the PulseRider device at 2 institutions in the United Kingdom were identified prospectively. Patient demographics, procedural details, immediate neurological and clinical status, and immediate angiographic outcomes and 6-month clinical and imaging follow-up were recorded prospectively. RESULTS At the end of the procedure, all 10 patients showed complete aneurysm occlusion (Raymond Class 1). There were no significant intraprocedural complications except for an occurrence of thromboembolism without clinical sequelae. There was no occurrence of aneurysm rupture or vessel dissection. At 6-month follow-up, 7 and 3 patients had modified Rankin Scale scores of 0 and 1, respectively. All 10 patients had stable aneurysm occlusion (Raymond Class 1) and daughter vessel intraluminal patency on 6-month follow-up catheter angiography. CONCLUSIONS The authors' early experience with the PulseRider device demonstrates that it is a safe and effective adjunct in the treatment of bifurcation aneurysms with wide necks arising at the middle cerebral artery bifurcation, anterior cerebral artery, basilar apex, and carotid terminus. It works by providing a scaffold at the neck of the bifurcation aneurysm, enabling neck remodeling and coil support while maintaining parent vessel intraluminal patency. Early clinical and radiological follow-up showed good functional outcome and stable occlusion rates, respectively. Further data are needed to assess medium- and long-term outcomes with PulseRider.

Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease with Early Motor Complications: A UK Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating illness associated with considerable impairment of quality of life and substantial costs to health care systems. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established surgical treatment option for some patients with advanced PD. The EARLYSTIM trial has recently demonstrated its clinical benefit also in patients with early motor complications. We sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DBS, compared to best medical therapy (BMT), among PD patients with early onset of motor complications, from a United Kingdom (UK) payer perspective. METHODS: We developed a Markov model to represent the progression of PD as rated using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) over time in patients with early PD. Evidence sources were a systematic review of clinical evidence; data from the EARLYSTIM study; and a UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) dataset including DBS patients. A mapping algorithm was developed to generate utility values based on UPDRS data for each intervention. The cost-effectiveness was expressed as the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were undertaken to explore the effect of parameter uncertainty. RESULTS: Over a 15-year time horizon, DBS was predicted to lead to additional mean cost per patient of £26,799 compared with BMT (£73,077/patient versus £46,278/patient) and an additional mean 1.35 QALYs (6.69 QALYs versus 5.35 QALYs), resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of £19,887 per QALY gained with a 99% probability of DBS being cost-effective at a threshold of £30,000/QALY. One-way sensitivity analyses suggested that the results were not significantly impacted by plausible changes in the input parameter values. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that DBS is a cost-effective intervention in PD patients with early motor complications when compared with existing interventions, offering additional health benefits at acceptable incremental cost. This supports the extended use of DBS among patients with early onset of motor complications.

Distal access using hyperflexible atraumatic distal tip with optimized proximal stability of the Benchmark intracranial guide catheter for the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases: a technical note.

BACKGROUND: A stable guide catheter position within the intracranial vasculature is critical for safe, successful endovascular treatment. OBJECTIVE: To present ourinitial experience with the 0.071 inch inner diameter Benchmark guide catheter used in the treatment of intracranial cerebrovascular pathologies, demonstrating its safety and efficacy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed use of the Benchmark guide catheter from September through December 2014 in the management of various neuroendovascular intracranial pathologies. Clinical performance and complication rates were evaluated, with particular consideration of vessel tortuosity. A total of 62 Benchmarks were used, 47 in the anterior circulation, 10 in the posterior circulation, 4 in the external carotid, and 1 in the venous sinus. The five cases with access to the external carotid and venous sinus were excluded. RESULTS: The Benchmark was able to cross at least one 90° turn in 49 (86%) of the 57 patients. Reversal of the catheter was seen in 15% of 47 anterior circulation cases (4 at one 90° turn; 3 at two 90° turns). We report no complications of dissection or thromboembolic events. All guide catheter positions were safely achieved over a 0.035 Terumo stiff glidewire without need for an inner smaller lumen guide catheter for navigation. CONCLUSIONS: Benchmark is a new guide catheter, with an ideal combination of both hyperflexible, atraumatic distal tip and optimized proximal shaft support to provide stable 6F primary access for a successful neurointerventional procedure. Benchmark can be easily, safely, and consistently positioned in a desired location within intracranial arteries providing a stable position for intervention and adequate angiography.

Unusual patterns of recurrence in low grade gliomas.

Some of the more unusual patterns of recurrence in previously treated low grade gliomas are demonstrated. As treatment choices develop and life expectancy is prolonged, patterns of tumour recurrence are likely to change within such a heterogeneous group of tumours, including metastatic spread via cerebrospinal fluid pathways.

Bilateral deep brain stimulation for cervical dystonia: long-term outcome in a series of 10 patients.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral globus pallidus internus (GPi) deep brain stimulation (DBS) was shown to be effective in cervical dystonia refractory to medical treatment in several small short-term and 1 long-term follow-up series. Optimal stimulation parameters and their repercussions on the cost/benefit ratio still need to be established. OBJECTIVE: To report our long-term outcome with bilateral GPi deep brain stimulation in cervical dystonia. METHODS: The Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale was evaluated in 10 consecutive patients preoperatively and at last follow-up. The relationship of improvement in postural severity and pain was analyzed and stimulation parameters noted and compared with those in a similar series in the literature. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) follow-up was 37.6 (16.9) months. Improvement in the total Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale score as evaluated at latest follow-up was 68.1% (95% confidence interval: 51.5-84.6). In 4 patients, there was dissociation between posture severity and pain improvement. Prevalently bipolar stimulation settings and high pulse widths and amplitudes led to excellent results at the expense of battery life. CONCLUSION: Improvement in all 3 subscale scores of the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale with bilateral GPi deep brain stimulation seems to be the rule. Refinement of stimulation parameters might have a significant impact on the cost/benefit ratio of the treatment. The dissociation of improvement in posture severity and pain provides tangible evidence of the complex nature of cervical dystonia and offers interesting insight into the complex functional organization of the GPi.

Application of electromagnetic technology to neuronavigation: a revolution in image-guided neurosurgery.

OBJECT: The authors investigated the practicality of electromagnetic neuronavigation in routine clinical use, and determined the applications for which it is at the advantage compared with other systems. METHODS: A magnetic field is generated encompassing the surgical volume. Devices containing miniaturized coils can be located within the field. The authors report on their experience in 150 cases performed with this technology. RESULTS: Electromagnetic neuronavigation was performed in 44 endoscopies, 42 ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertions for slit ventricles, 21 routine shunt insertions, 6 complex shunt insertions, 14 external ventricular drain placements for traumatic brain injury, 5 awake craniotomies, 5 Ommaya reservoir placements, and for 13 other indications. Satisfactory positioning of ventricular catheters was achieved in all cases. No particular changes to the operating theater set-up were required, and no significant interference from ferromagnetic instruments was experienced. Neurophysiological monitoring was not affected, nor did it affect electromagnetic guidance. CONCLUSIONS: Neuronavigation enables safe, accurate surgery, and may ultimately reduce complications and improve outcome. Electromagnetic technology allows frameless, pinless, image-guided surgery, and can be used in all procedures for which neuronavigation is appropriate. This technology was found to be particularly advantageous compared with other technologies in cases in which freedom of head movement was helpful. Electromagnetic neuronavigation was therefore well suited to CSF diversion procedures, awake craniotomies, and cases in which rigid head fixation was undesirable, such as in neonates. This technology extends the application of neuronavigation to routine shunt placement and ventricular catheter placement in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Long-term outcome of spinal cord stimulation and hardware complications.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a treatment modality for medically intractable chronic pain. This study reports an 11-year experience with SCS assessing long-term pain relief and specifically evaluating complications and revisions. It took the form of a retrospective review of medical/surgical records with a postal questionnaire. The subjects were 102 patients with medically intractable chronic pain who underwent SCS implantation between 1989 and 2000. There were 64 revision operations carried out on 35 patients. These comprised electrode replacement/repositioning (29), generator replacement (23), cable failure (3) and implant removal (5). Five (4.9%) implants became infected and 2 required removal. Clinician-reported pain relief was substantial in 69 (68%) patients. This study adds to the weight of evidence that patients undergoing SCS derive significant benefits in terms of pain relief. However, revision rates remain high due to technical and biological factors.